Cattleya alliance - ideal time to harvest pollinia, pollinate?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have a Cattlianthe and a Cattleytonia that I'd like to pollinate. I will probably try the cross both ways.

The first bloom of the Cattleytonia opened last night. Buds on the Cattlianthe began opening several days ago, some buds not open yet. So, both plants currently have buds open, and other buds not open.

My question is, is there an ideal time after flower opening to collect pollinia from either of these plants, and an ideal time to pollinate either plant?

I have successfully produced viable seed once with Cattleyas, and also failed once. Neither time did I make notes regarding when the buds opened. If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them. Thanks!

[estación seca]

People post here who make Cattleya crosses. I was hoping one of you would answer.

At the Desert Valley Orchid Society meeting Thursday Wes Addison, a Phal hybridizer from Tucson, discussed orchid propagation. Most of his talk dealt with Phals, but he said a lot of it applied to other genera. He suggested not pollinating right away, but waiting for a few days, because the stigmatic surface may take a while to become receptive. He said many breeders will make the cross in both directions, but if he has a young, small plant, he will not stress it by making it bear seed - he will use pollen from that small plant onto the larger and more vigorous plant. The same cross made in different directions may lead to quite different seedlings, as different plants may pass different characteristics to their offspring when pod or pollen parents.

He mentioned in passing Cattleyas are normally quite easy to pollinate and get seed set, and there is a high rate of success if there are not chromosomal imbalances.

[Ray]

My understanding is that 2-3 days after flower opening is a good time.

If you use your toothpick to "mash" the pollinia on a piece of wax paper before application, you'll get a better result. I'm guessing that it breaks up the wax that holds the pollen grains together, exposing them.

[Leafmite]

Good luck!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Thanks everyone.

After I posted, I found some American Orchid Society advice that supports the Wes Addison advice passed along by estacion seca. Use neither just-opened or nearly spent flowers, but use flowers that are mature (if either plant was fragrant I would likely take fragrance as an indicator of readiness for pollination).

I think I will probably try Friday this coming week.